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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros welcomes filing of charges vs BI officer linked to human trafficking

Hontiveros welcomes filing of charges vs BI officer linked to human trafficking

Published Mar 25, 2023 04:20 am
The Senate Committee on Women has expressed confidence on Saturday, March 25 that the filing of charges against a Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer would help stop the large-scale human trafficking of Filipinos in connection with crypto scams. ‘’Our Senate Committee on Women has long revealed that Chinese crypto scam syndicates want an all-Filipino team for their criminal operations, and we simply cannot allow this,’’ Senator Risa Hontiveros, committee chairwoman, said. "These criminal charges against erring BI officers tell the public that we will not let anything slide. Mananagot kahit empleyado ng gubyerno (Any government employee has to face the charges),’’ she added. Hontiveros also congratulated the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for its hard work to make those responsible behind the syndicate of illegal recruiters and human traffickers liable.  ‘’Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga witness, mga victim-survivors ng crypto human trafficking sa Cambodia, na naglakas loob makipag-ugnayan sa opisina ko at magsiwalat ng kanilang kwento (I thank the witnesses, victim-survivors of crypto human trafficking in Cambodia who bravely came to my office and revealed their stories), Their testimonies have been key to the filing of these charges,’’ she said. ‘’Ito ay patunay na nagbubunga ng katarungan kapag lahat tayo nagtutulungan - ang Senado, ang bawat ahensya ng ating gobyerno, at ang mamamayang Pilipino (This proves that justice prevails when we help one another - the Senate, government agencies and the Filipino people),’’ she added. The BI expressed appreciation over the decision of the NBI to file criminal charges against a female immigration officer who allegedly facilitated the flight of traffickers to Cambodia. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the immigration officer processed the departure of six suspected trafficking victims at Clark International Airport to work in a crypto currency scam in Cambodia but the attempt was foiled by her colleagues. The same immigration officer also facilitated the departure of three other victims who hurriedly returned to  Manila last Feb. 20 from Cambodia.

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Risa Hontiveros
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